Nancy Stuart has been elected as the 2026 Chairperson of the Mount San Jacinto Winter Park Authority, which oversees the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Stuart, who has lived in the desert since 1975, was first appointed to the Authority by the Palm Springs City Council in 2000 and was reappointed most recently in 2023.
Stuart’s background includes more than three decades managing financial institutions in Palm Springs, such as Santa Fe Federal Savings, Downey Savings, and U.S. Bank. She has served on several local boards and committees, including the Downtown Business Improvement District and the Ruth Hardy (Movie Colony East) Neighborhood Organization. Stuart also participated as a chamber of commerce liaison committee member with the city council and worked on various committees for the Palm Springs Woman’s Club.
“The Tramway is one of the Coachella Valley’s most iconic attractions,” said Stuart. “For nearly 63 years, it has provided visitors from around the globe with a truly memorable experience. Maintaining safe and efficient operations while being good stewards to the pristine environment within which we operate is our continuing goal. I am very honored to serve as 2026 Chair and help contribute to the Tramway’s ongoing legacy.”
Other officers elected for 2026 include Vice Chair Jonathan Hoy, Secretary Jerry Ogburn, and Treasurer Giovanni Virgen.
The current members of the Authority are Jerry Ogburn (appointed by Palm Springs City Council), Jonathan Hoy and Giovanni Virgen (appointed by Riverside County Board of Supervisors), and Brian Conley, Sandra Magana-Cuellar, and Jeff Ohlfs (appointed by the Governor).
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is managed by this state agency Mount San Jacinto Winter Park Authority. The tramway provides access from desert floor to mountain wilderness areas in Mount San Jacinto State Park through scenic rides that reach an elevation of 8,516 feet according to its official website. The mountain station features restaurants, observation decks, a museum, theaters, and hiking trail access as detailed online.
Since opening in 1963 after innovative construction efforts—and later modernizations—the tramway has enhanced public appreciation for both Coachella Valley and Chino Canyon landscapes official sources note. It operates as a self-funded entity that had repaid $8.15 million in private revenue bonds by 1996 according to its records. The tramway has also received recognition as a historical civil engineering landmark known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” per its website.
